German workers win right to 28-hour week

Millions of German workers are winning the fight for a 28-hour work week.Labor union IG Metall secured an unpr...

Posted: Feb. 7, 2018 10:40 AM

Updated: Feb. 7, 2018 4:43 PM

Millions of German workers are winning the fight for a 28-hour work week.

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Labor union IG Metall secured an unprecedented deal this week to give a large portion of its 2.3 million members more flexible working hours and a big pay rise.

From next year, workers at many of Germany's top engineering firms -- such as Mercedes-Benz owner Daimler -- can opt to work 28 hours a week for up to two years, before returning to the standard 35-hour week.

The deal was negotiated with representatives of more than 700 companies in southwest Germany. It is expected to have ripple effects across German industry.

IG Metall said the flexibility would help employees who want to care for children or relatives. Pay will be reduced to reflect the shorter working week. The deal also gives workers the option to work 40 hours to earn more.

Daimler said it would offer the new flexible hours to all its employees starting in 2019, but noted it already offered many flexible working options.

Bosch, which employs 138,000 people in Germany, said it would offer the same pay rises and perks to the majority of its German workers. It said the flexible hours wouldn't be disruptive.

"Bosch already has about 100 different working hour models to ensure an optimum work-life balance," said Simon Schmitt, a company spokesperson.

But other companies may find it harder to swallow. S-dwestmetall -- the employers' association that agreed the deal -- said it was a compromise with some "painful elements." It would be "hard to bear for many firms," it added.

S-dwestmetall spokesperson Volker Steinmaier said the shorter working week could lead to labor shortages. However, most workers are likely to want to work extra hours to make more money, he said.